SENATE VOTES TO CENSURE ABERNATHY

The debate was short and the decision swift, but the Georgia Senate's move
to censure Sen. Ralph David Abernathy III on Wednesday could echo through
the legislative session.

The censure, which passed by a 51-2 vote, marked only the second time in
modern history that the Senate had issued such a strong reprimand against
one of its members.

Afterward, Abernathy (D-Atlanta) said he was "prepared to move on," but
that may be wishful thinking. A move in the House to impeach him shows no
signs of abating.

Abernathy, the son of a beloved civil rights leader, offered no resistance
to the censure, which resulted from his attempt to conceal a small amount
of marijuana in his underpants as he stepped off an airplane from Jamaica
to Atlanta on Dec. 1. He sat silently at his desk and abstained from voting
while his colleagues decided his fate.

Leaders of both parties had urged Senate members to forego political
grandstanding, and only three senators spoke on the matter.

"His actions of smuggling drugs into this country is an inexcusable act,"
said Ethics Committee Chairman Sen. Eddie Madden (D-Elberton). "We are held
to a higher standard, and he has betrayed that."

Sen. Charles Clay (R-Marietta), the Republican leader in the Senate, said
the censure brought no pleasure to anyone.

"We cannot allow our feelings of like or dislike to force us to disregard
our responsibility," said Clay. "It is the conduct we are judging."

Clay attempted unsuccessfully to amend the censure resolution by naming
Abernathy, rather than identifying him only by his district number -- a
standard Senate practice.

The censure was adopted quickly because Abernathy waived his right to
dispute the allegations. He also resigned his Senate committee
chairmanship, but retains all other Senate privileges.

The last time a senator was censured was in 1976, when Roscoe Dean was
reprimanded for misusing his state expense accounts. Unlike Abernathy, Dean
demanded an airing of the charges. Lt. Gov. Pierre Howard, who at the time
was a young senator, laid out the charges against Dean in a role similar to
that of a prosecutor.

Compared to that occasion, Howard said, Abernathy's censure was much less
difficult. "I think it was handled in an appropriate way, and I'm glad it's
behind us," said Howard.

A censure is the strongest action the Senate can take on its own.
Impeachment proceedings must begin in the House, which acts as a kind of
grand jury. If the House votes to impeach, the matter would move to a trial
in the Senate, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Benham presiding.

Clay said he would vote to impeach Abernathy if the matter returned to the
Senate, and Madden has said there is "a probability" the Senate would vote
for impeachment.

Abernathy, who apologized on the Senate floor Monday, said he would work to
regain the confidence of his colleagues and constituents. "I'm going to do
all I can," said Abernathy.

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